Colin Innes runs after scoring a goal with teammates surrounding him in celebration.
Jon Ratner
0
Colgate COLGATE (8-10-2)
2
Winner Boston University BOSTONU (11-3-4)
Colgate COLGATE
(8-10-2)
0
Final
2
Boston University BOSTONU
(11-3-4)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Colgate COLGATE 0 0 0
Boston University BOSTONU 0 2 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Innes' Brace Propels Men's Soccer to 2-0 Patriot League Semifinal Victory over Colgate

BOSTON – Boosted by graduate student Colin Innes' first career brace and a stellar defensive effort that allowed just two shots, the top-seeded Boston University men's soccer team claimed a 2-0 victory over No. 4 Colgate in the 2023 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Championship Semifinals Tuesday night at Nickerson Field.

Remaining unbeaten at home with a 7-0-2 mark, the PL regular season champion Terriers improve to 11-3-4, while the Raiders see their season come to an end at 8-10-2. With No. 3 Lafayette upsetting No. 2 Loyola Maryland in overtime, 2-0, down in Baltimore, BU will host the Leopards with an automatic NCAA tournament bid on the line Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m.

Innes broke the scoreless stalemate in the 82nd minute with help from sophomore Giuseppe Bagnato and added an insurance score in the 86th on a pass from freshman Jason Zacarias. Senior Francesco Montali collected the shutout without needing a save.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Both teams recorded just one shot apiece with Colgate's Cason Stafford lofting a cross high over the crossbar at 23:27.
  • Innes made a move around a defender in the 34th minute to rip a shot but another defender was in position for the block.
  • The Terriers earned the game's first corner kick in the final minute of the half, but the Raiders' Andrew Cooke grabbed the cross to keep the game scoreless.
  • Cooke also stopped corners in the 68th and 80th minutes, respectively, as the Terriers dominated possession for much of the second half with senior Eitan Rosen sailing a shot over the crossbar at 59:09.
  • Bagnato helped BU grabbed the lead for good with a quick pass to Innes, who ripped a shot just outside the box past the keeper at the far post.
  • With the Raiders pressing for the equalizer, BU converted on a counter, as Zacaris drove up the field and fed Innes for a quick grounder toward the right post.
  • Colgate earned a free kick at 86:42 and a corner kick at 88:49 but were unable to threaten, as the Terriers earned the shutout.
GAME NOTES
  • Innes earned BU's second brace of the season after Rosen accomplished the feat at American.
  • Zacarias became the third Terrier to earn at least three assists, joining Innes (7) and senior Andrew Rent (3).
  • Bagnato became the 12th Terrier to record an assist and the 16th overall to earn at least one point.
  • BU finished with a 4-2 advantage in shots and 3-0 lead in corners.
  • The Terriers improve to 10-4-3 all-time in the series, as the teams met in the PL tournament for the first time.
  • BU snapped a six-game winless streak (0-2-4) in the PL tournament with its first victory since eliminating Army West Point, 1-0, in overtime in 2014.
  • The Terriers last defeated an opponent by more than one goal with a 2-0 America East semifinal victory in 2004 over Stony Brook as the top seed. They would next claim the title via penalty kicks against Binghamton. 
UP NEXT
  • No. 1 BU will host its second ever Patriot League title game on Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m. against No. 3 Lafayette.
  • The Terriers suffered heartbreak in overtime back in 2014 and will try seeking their first NCAA bid since claiming an at-large berth in 2015.
  • The Leopards upset No. 2 Loyola Maryland, 2-0, and are the only PL squad to beat BU this season, a 2-0 decision in Easton, Pennsylvania, back on Oct. 14.
Print Friendly Version